Chương 1779: [1676] – Y07.176 – A Man of Family VI

The half elf remained sitting, laughing and crying, unable to contain himself, rocking back and forth. He reached into his cloak for a handkerchief, wiping his eyes, then his nose, and as he made to speak, he returned back to laughing, still squealing like a pig. The Grand Malawi allowed the anger to fall over him for a moment, and as he raised his hand and made to speak, a deep exhale stopped him.

"Grand Malawi," called the voice, dark, void of all humour, her eyes remaining complete focused on the Grand Malawi now that the immediate death had passed.

"If you intend to disparage my children, I shall write a letter personally, and Mother Priest shall stamp it."

"Though we have a great respect for Life's Rose, we cannot accept such a delusion," the Grand Malawi returned, without any hint of fear, even as the Iyrmen were so overtly threatening him, within this temple, for they would not make the mistake of spilling blood within it, nor would they make the mistake of attacking him, for though the Iyr was far away, even the Sun oppressed its peaks.

"It is your delusion which suggests you can speak so poorly of my greatchildren before me," Mulrot snapped, her entire body tense, ready to strike.

"I do not-," the Grand Malawi began. A crack of one's neck interrupted him.

"Not even your Sun Lord can protect your neck from my axe," Jarot said, and with that, his entire body flushed hot red, for if there was one who sought death within this temple, it was Jarot, for did he believe only a dozen or so could save him from the likes of the Mad Dog?

The half a dozen guards reached for their blades, ready to draw their scimitars within this temple, for it was their right, and no foreigner could dare to threaten their Grand Malawi, and though the Priests were Experts, each ready to wield their Third Gate spells, some were between Expert and Master, and the six of them could certainly kill any of these Iyrmen.

"You are too weak to pretend in front of me!" Jarot roared, reaching for his axe, only pausing as a hand grabbed at his wrist.

"Jirot, you must tell your babo off, for how can he be so rude to the Amira in her own home?" Adam called, for there was only one way the Mad Dog could be stopped now.

"The Amira has treated your mother so well, and how many gifts has she bought for her, and yet he can bully her like this?"

"Stop it babo! You are better than that!" Jirot huffed, wagging her finger towards her greatfather, for though she wished for her greatfather to kill the Grand Malawi, how could he do so in front of her mother? Jarot remained red, and his muscles flexed with such viciousness, and even Afraz could feel the Iyrman's brutal lust for blood, the kind that had been formed by slaughtering Aldishmen as though they were cattle.

The old man felt a small chubby hand, and with that, the red slipped away, though it was replaced by green as he held up both of his greatchildren, for within his arms, they were in no danger. The Amira did not dare to sigh. It would be difficult to deal with the Grand Malawi, certainly, but he had stepped on her authority by coming in at such an awkward time, no doubt knowing she had brought them here. Had he tried to orchestrate a situation? Did he truly believe the Iyr would not attack him?

For once, even the Amira was uncertain of his motives, for one of two thoughts could be true, but they were complete opposite of one another.

"Why are you taking the words of the Grand Malawi so seriously?" Adam said, though they could all see how red in the face he was.

"Just because he's met Lord Noor? Does he think he's the only one here whose met the Lord of the Sun?" The Grand Malawi's eyes fell upon the half elf.

"Next time the Divine wish to speak with me, I'll be speaking to the Sun Lord of your behaviour here, don't you worry." If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"To suggest you have met the Divine…"

"I haven't just met the Major Divine," Adam replied, his lips forming a wider smile, the kind that was knowing.

"I shall pray for you, for your delusions, like those of the Iyr, are dangerous.

""You know, you should be careful, Grand Malawi, for what I like about Lord Sozain is that he doesn't discriminate."

"I will not suffer your threats, young man, for within this temple, I feel the warmth of the Lord greatest, and your petty tricks shall remained blinded by the Light." Adam stretched his neck, and he approached the Grand Malawi, causing the guards to step forward, though as he approached, they did not attack, for the Grand Malawi had yet to give the word, and as Adam stepped in front of the old man, his grey eyes staring deep into his own, the two adorned in naught but their faith.

"If Lord Noor had to choose between you and I…"

"You believe he would choose you?"

"Absolutely," Adam replied, flashing a wide smile.

"I don't recall much, for it was all so vague, and we did not get a chance to speak."

"When were you granted his benevolence?"

"A few years ago, when I met all the Divine, at the time when Lord Sozain claimed me as his own, much to the other Divine's chagrin."

"You are Chosen of the Death Lord?" the Grand Malawi asked, and the obsidian amulet remained within his periphery.

"How else did I gain the power to break your Radiant Blade?" The Grand Malawi narrowed his eyes, and considering how much trouble he had already caused, for the Iyr had not dared to draw their steel, he turned, flipping his cloak against the half elf as he stepped away.

As Adam watched the man go, he narrowed his eyes, for the others left, daring not to touch him, though their cloaks did caress around him, and yet the half elf did not allow them to aggravate him, for they had yet to attack him, and as their ilk liked to do, if he was to draw his steel, as they wished, they would blame him for it.

It was not just Adam, however, for Vonda's heart thrummed and throbbed, and the woman's gloved fingers clenched into fists, causing a gentle squeak to escape, though thankfully the sounds around them managed to drown out the noise, yet her mother placed a hand upon her shoulder. Vonda inhaled sharply, but smiled towards her children, reaching up to tickle her daughter's wet cheeks, reaching up to wipe her eyes and for her twin too, cleaning their sniffling noses. However, the fury remained within the temple.

The Iyrmen, too, glanced between one another, considering the logistics of assassinating the Grand Malawi, though they could not do so now, although, upon their journey out, if he dared to send a few Priests to them, then they could certainly cull the worthless Aswadians down.

"I must apologise for the Grand Malawi, for he is rather orthodox in his worship of the Divine," the Amira said, clasping her hands together in prayer, praying to both Lord Noor and the Iyrmen, praying they would not do anything, not now, not in the future, but she was certain they would, for they were of the Iyr.

"Indeed," Adam replied, causing others to glance his way, the half elf still staring towards the form of the man who was so small now, and yet still within his range, but he couldn't draw his axe, not now, not yet. He did not turn. It was as though he was engraving the sight of the man within his eyes, and as the seconds passed, and though the Amira had called for them to perhaps end their trip, the half elf did not move.

'How could I do it?' Adam thought, considering his strength, considering his power, considering his XP, considering how he could spend the XP.

'I'd need Pass Without Trace. I'd need Dispel Magic. I wouldn't be able to do it alone, not if, no, would he have a way to disable magic, since that would be how he would defend himself, right? Although having back up might be good, if I bring along grandmother, grandaunt, granduncle, Kitool, probably, she wouldn't want to miss it. I wouldn't even use my axe. I have to feel it.'

It was Adam's fist, clenching in front of his fist, swallowing the Grand Malawi within the fist, which caused a shudder to run through the Amira, for she was certain she understood what he was thinking, and to think of it so overtly, to think of it in such a temple, and to think of it of the Grand Malawi… It was those thoughts which confirmed how dangerous he was.

Then, the half elf turned, and none had seen the look within his eyes, for they were empty now, having spilled whatever they once held, and the fool smiled, also empty at first, but soon it reached his eyes, as he reached over to his twins, tickling their chins, leaning over to kiss their cheeks.

"That was one of the most beautiful comebacks I have ever heard," Adam said, staring deep into his daughter's eyes.

"I'm so proud of you." Jirot's cheeks flushed, and the girl squirmed within her greatfather's arms, hiding her face within his chest. Adam turned to little Jarot, smiling towards the boy.

"You were so brave, just like your sister." Little Jarot, too, turned within his greatfather's arms, and the half elf cast his magic, and soon they stepped away to change the twins, Vonda assisting her husband. Adam ignored her gaze for a long while, for he could not look into her eyes while the thoughts remained.